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EcoCAR Members Present at Annual Community Engagement Conference

Posted:

January 26, 2019

Columbus, OH (Jan. 24, 2018) - On Jan. 24, two Ohio State EcoCAR members represented the team in the annual Community Engagement Conference hosted by the Ohio State Office of Outreach and Engagement at the Ohio Union.

Kristina Kuwabara, the controls, systems modeling, and simulation team lead, and Allison Mellor, the team’s communication manager, highlighted how Ohio State EcoCAR is preparing for a sustainable future. The duo reviewed the team’s strong efforts to host diversified youth and government outreach events.

While the focus was mainly centered around the EcoCAR 3 competition, Mellor and Kuwabara touched on how the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge presents unique hurdles and a fantastic opportunity for The Ohio State University to step up to the plate once again.

Allison Mellor, EcoCAR's communication manager.“As a communication major, I was thrilled to call attention to the impactful work that the team carried out throughout the four-year competition,” Mellor said. “They’re shaping the future of transportation, and I’m happy to channel their innovations into content that can be appreciated by everyone.”

Key markers of success from the previous competition include the team’s ability to increase fuel economy and reduce emissions all while maintaining performance and consumer appeal. Looking to the future, the team is excited to re-engineer a Chevrolet Blazer with the goal to increase fuel economy and integrate connected and automated technologies. For the first time in the university’s history, a student motorsports team will target the mobility-as-a-service market, pointing to the team’s dedication to investing in the future of sustainable solutions.

Kristina Kuwabara, the controls, systems modeling, and simulation lead (left) and Allison Mellor, the communications manager (right)When asked about her experience at the conference, Kuwabara said, “It was exciting to tell people about the program that I'm passionate about, and how we are working toward a more sustainable transportation solution for the future. By getting the community more involved, we are able to start more conversations about the impact of our actions on the environment.”

The 2019 Community Engagement Conference is made possible by ENGIE-Axium and Ohio State’s Alumni Association, Corporate Engagement Office, Discovery Themes Initiative, Graduate School, Office of Government Affairs, Office of International Affairs, Office of Outreach and Engagement, Office of Research, Office of Student Life, Office of Undergraduate Education, Sustainability Institute, Wexner Medical Center, OSU Extension and the Ohio Water Resources Center.